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Welcome to the Sunday interview and this week my guest is author Billy Ray Chitwood. Before we find out which of the questions Billy Ray has chosen to respond to… here is his official biography.

About Billy Ray Chitwood

An Appalachian hill boy from east Tennessee, Billy Ray Chitwood has family roots that go back to tenth century England and a hamlet just north of London called Chetwode.

Billy Ray received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, taught high school ‘Advanced Writing’ in Lorain, Ohio. He has served honorably and proudly in the United States Navy. Aside from sales/marketing management positions with top textbook publishers, he has been a model and an actor in film, stage, television. He is still active in his own business as the CEO of Chitwood, Inc.

Billy Ray has written fifteen books, most of which you will find on amazon and amazon UK. Many of his novels of fiction were inspired from actual crimes. His first book, “The Cracked Mirror – Reflections Of An Appalachian Son,” is a fictional memoir which has much factual and historical accuracy about the author’s own life.

Currently, Billy Ray spends his time on the Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee with his lovely wife, Julie Anne, and their feisty but lovable Bengal cat named George.

Time to hand over to Billy Ray and discover more about something he lost, music and bearskin rugs,

Welcome Billy Ray and can you tell us what is the most valuable thing you have lost and did you ever find it?

One of my most productive periods as an author was during residence in historic Southeast Arizona – historic because the residence was close to Tombstone (‘The Town Too Tough to Die’), home for a while to Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, the ‘Shoot-out at the OK Corral’, and legendary bad guys and Indians).

My writing at the time focused on ‘The Bailey Crane Mysteries’ which was to be a 7-book series. The first book – “An Arizona Tragedy’ – was finished. The second book – “Stranger Abduction” – was finished except for final editing. Both manuscripts were placed in individual boxes. These books were written on my ‘Star-Writer’ word processor…did not have a laptop at the time.

During a subsequent move, the “Stranger Abduction” manuscript was lost…the only manuscript missing of the many already written and in their boxes.

I searched for weeks trying to find it as I had started the publishing process (too many-too fast, I must add). While each book in the series stood alone, each still followed the aging and woes of the central character, ‘Bailey Crane’. Angry, dumbfounded, I finally re-wrote “Stranger Abduction” as a stand-alone book. It’s my belief it is much better than the original that was lost.

What is your favourite music genre and why?

I’m an incurable ‘Romantic’ so I’m a ballad-type of guy. Back in my ‘lotus-eater’ days, there was nothing more soothing, more overwhelming for the emotional-me than ‘Ole Blue Eyes’ Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett entertaining me and my lady…with, of course, some wine, cheese, and grapes on a bearskin rug!

Those were the moments when dying, taxes, and tomorrow were never considered and nowhere on the immediate horizon. Fellow ‘lotus-eaters’ will know of what I write here. Somehow, without the music, those moments would not be the same. So much of me is still there in those moments.

Sally here.… I hope that this will provide another bearskin and wine moment Billy Ray….

Do you prefer the beach or the mountains and why?

The beach… If I’m a ‘Romantic’, you know it’s got to be the beach! I’ve got to be able to see the horizon and wonder just what’s beyond. That’s not all! There’s the sun, the waves caressing the shore, the smell of salt water, and those yummy yellow polka-dot bikinis incessantly walking by – with one hopefully lying next to me on the beach towel. Now, this should not be surprising to anyone… I’m seriously impaired, incurable beyond redemption, and my epithet should read: ‘Here lies Billy Ray – The Spirit of his Day!’ I’m just saying… PLUS, there are tons of space in front of me!

Do you prefer cats, dogs, or neither?

Billy Ray and Julie Anne

I love both cats and dogs. ‘Lady Gray’ is our recently added fur-buddy… Interesting story: ‘Lady’ was an outdoor cat, kept showing up at our backdoor morning, noon and evening for ‘handouts’…which Julie Anne was eager to accommodate. On some occasions, ‘Lady’ would come in, but, then dash out, not quite sure of the situation. Finally, she came in for keeps, pregnant and in need of Vet treatment. She is now at home, wants nothing from outside, not even her siblings. She sits on the back of a stuffed chair and watches her friends romp outside.

And one very lucky ‘Lady Gray’

If you could choose a different career, what would it be and why?

I would be a golfer – and a writer’! They blend nicely. Hey, I’m out in the sun, at least, most of the time…and, I don’t even mind playing in the rain. There is one proviso: my game would have to be in the professional range of competition. I’m way too much of a ‘Ham’ and maybe I get rich swiftly and have all the pretty ladies ‘following’ my action. On the side, you understand, I’m writing my ‘Best Sellers’! What a perfect fit!

Sally here... you wanted birds following you around the course Billy Ray.. here are a few for you, plus an alligator, turtle and squirrel. Hazards when you play in the big leagues. Courtesy of PGA Tour Channel where you will find more of the same and all the action of the tour.

Here is a small selection of Billy Ray’s books

About Stranger Abduction

It is a sunny Sunday in May, 1993. After church, a mother and her lovely fourteen-year old daughter walk three miles to a country store for cigarettes and ice cream. It is a walk members of the family often take in this rural Sulphur Springs Valley area of southeastern Arizona near the Mexican border.

The mother and daughter arrive at the store in a jovial mood, trading pleasantries with customers and the owners… The daughter timidly flirts with a boy from her school. The daughter and mother leave the store in a silly mood, finger painting ice cream on their faces.

They never make it home…

The deputy sheriff of the county believe there has been a ‘stranger abduction’.

There are lots of action, interesting characters, and romance to go with this fictional account of an incident inspired by true events…events that brought tragedy to a shaken family.

Can you imagine anything more frightening than a mother and daughter disappearing from a quiet rural road? That’s exactly the tale that Billy Ray Chitwood relates in Stranger Abduction. This is a fictitious account of an actual event. A mother and daughter walking home from the store, happy and eating ice cream when evil pounces. The way the author wove this tale around all the characters involved is gripping. I discovered many sub-plots in this book and sometimes that doesn’t work. But, in this book, it worked perfectly and I had no trouble following along. This is a chilling, well-written story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, break your heart and then mend it slowly but surely. A great read!

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About Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

My name is Sally Cronin and I am doing what I love.. Writing. Books, short stories, Haiku and blog posts. My previous jobs are only relevant in as much as they have gifted me with a wonderful filing cabinet of memories and experiences which are very useful when putting pen to paper. I move between non-fiction health books and posts and fairy stories, romance and humour. I love variety which is why I called my blog Smorgasbord Invitation and you will find a wide range of subjects. You can find the whole story here.
Find out more at https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/about-me/

Sally, what a lovely Saturday evening treat! Your interview, Sinatra, Iguanas, alligators, and turtles…WOW! I can’t thank you enough. You made the week for me as I’ve been really toiling with my writing and the laptop blues all week – you brought joy, and I thank you so much…!♥♥♥

This week my guest on the Getting to Know You interview is author Billy Ray Chitwood. He has chosen some excellent questions to respond to and shares his love of Sinatra, things lost and the romance in life… including golf…. Time to hand over to Billy Ray and discover more about something he lost, music and bearskin rugs,

This was a delightful Sunday morning read! Thank you, Sally, for inviting Billy Ray to your blog. I felt like we were all sitting in a living room, coffee in hand, enjoying discoveries of this wonderful writer. I loved Stranger Abduction and look forward to reading more of his work. All the best to you both.

I enjoyed reading more about Billy Ray. I loved his epitaph ‘Here lies Billy Ray – The Spirit of his Day!’ since I believe it truly captures the essence of Billy Ray perfectly. Thaks, Sally and Billy Ray

Thanks so much, Debbie… Hope to be back in Arizona by Fall or sooner. We have something definitely in common. I love Arizona. Hope you enjoy my books if you get a chance to read them. My best wishes. BR ♥

Great interview, Sally! I had read about Billy Ray’s lost manuscript before and I am sure I’ve heard him singing at some point (and he is impressive!). Love to learn more about him. Congratulations, Billy Ray, and many thanks, Sally!

It’s wonderful to get to know Billy Ray a little more, Sally. I can tell he’s a romantic from his beautiful poetry. And I would have a meltdown if I lost a whole manuscript, but I’m glad it worked out well in the long run. Great review. Thanks for hosting, Sally. 🙂

Hi, Jennie, thanks for your comment… I’ve spent some time in WV: lovely people, lovely state – stayed at the Greenbriar at times in my work. Our distinction as I recall: folks from WV were called ‘Ridge-Runners’ and we in TN were called ‘Hill-Billies. Have a great week, Jennie AND Best Wishes. BR

Well thank you, Billy Ray. Yes, I’m a ridge runner and you’re a hillbilly. The Greenbrier is quite the hotel. That’s where we spent our honeymoon back in ‘76. Do you remember the ice sculptures at lunch? My family homestead is not too far away in Lowell, the oldest two story log cabin west of the Appalachian mountains. We could talk for ages. Best to you!

What a wonderful interview, Sally. It’s so nice to learn more about Billy Ray and to meet his better half. I really enjoyed “Stranger Abduction,” but haven’t read any of Billy Ray’s other books yet. Thanks so much for hosting him!

What a delightful interview, Sally. Good to know more about you, Billy. I went over to your blog a few months back and admire your publications. It’s wonderful to read Sally’s introduction, the interview questions, and your answers. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin are my favorites also. That makes a nice evening read to me. Thank you both.

My husband listens to Karen Carpenter, Glen Thompson and a couple more in the era every night. I love them also because they were story tellers. Their music will stay for a long time verse the music that hardly has a melody or any depth in the story. A wonderful week to you, ❤

So much fun reading more about the Billy Ray. Here is a fact that you may not know Sally and Sally‘s followers. Billy Ray and I attended the same college! Different years but we will always be (writing) Warriors! Keep on writing, Billy Ray!

Such a great interview! I love your epithet and sense of humor, Billy Ray, and that you turned a negative (loss of manuscript) into a positive. The PGA video is hilarious, Sally 🙂 Hugs to both of you ❤️❤️

Tina, pushed the button too fast… Forgot an important item…a bucket was left for you! I can’t send the whole bucket, but here are 3 special ones I picked out for you… ♥♥♥ Now, don’t devour them too quickly…savor them! Ah, what the heck! Here’s 3 more from the bucket! ♥♥♥ Hope I’m not spoiling you! ♥♥♥